Jessica Biel

Jessica Claire Biel was born on March 3, 1982, in Ely, Minnesota, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado with her brother Justin, after her family relocated to the rocky state.

A regular girl who loved to sing, dance, in-line skate, and mountain bike, Jessica was first discovered while competing at the International Modeling and Talent Association's Los Angeles Convention in 1994. Her participation in the conference led to her being awarded a scholarship to the Young Actors Space, an acting society in Los Angeles.

Jessica has taken her acting abilities to the stage ever since she was 9 years old, starring in regional theater productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Invisible People, Annie, and The Sound of Music, while her beauty led her to model for Limited Too for two years.

The hazel-eyed beauty hit it big in 1996 when she was cast as Mary Camden in the WB's successful family drama, 7th Heaven. While playing one of seven siblings on the Aaron Spelling-produced show, Jessica also proved to moviegoers that she could steal the spotlight on the silver screen. In 1997, she starred with Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold -- which garnered attention at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals -- and her role as the rebellious teen made critics take notice.

One year later, she starred opposite teen Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home for Christmas.